The Importance of Music in Primary Schools

Music is an art that never dies, as it remains part of an increasing interest all over the world. Its exposure, appreciation and methodology come largely recommended by notable education researchers as well. Yet, many parents don’t encourage their children to learn it in primary grades.

They may see it as a waste of time, or, perhaps, in an effort to appease a reluctant music student, they may not pursue and press for a music curriculum. In doing so, parent’s inadvertently place their kids at a disadvantage because music offers at lease six benefits that other extra-curricular activities don’t.

Music Improves Math Skills

According to the Mathematical Association of America, math paves the way to a huge array of career options[1], making it and anything that facilitates its knowledge, like music, extremely important to the next generation’s job force. Music helps students understand math’s basic concepts through counting and timing or pacing. Even music’s own language, notation, uses fractions to dictate tempo, and it becomes a complementary math-based activity when taught and practiced on a regular basis.

Music Improves Pattern Recognition

Through pattern recognition, humans can predict outcomes and make appropriate behavioral choices in an effort to influence a result. Most of us have mastered this art as adults after learning it in the early primary grades through art and math. Through music, this skill requires that our physical body coordinate with our thought processes, and it strengthens pattern recognition so much so, we often, but inappropriately, regard it as intuition in our later years.

Music Improves Attention to Detail

One of the largest concerns in our primary schools today is the increasing ADHD epidemic. ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is characterized by a lack of impulse control and inattention. Through music, students are forced to do specific things at specific times, and it necessitates a focus that ADHD students can have trouble mastering all on their own.

Music Improves Listening

Learning music also improves listening through tempo, tone and pitch. These three music principles teach students when to act, how long to act, and when to stop acting, ultimately demanding both auditory awareness and processing. Because music is often taught in a group setting, students develop an ear for things like synchronicity and harmony.

Music Improves Teamwork

A music class can be as small as a quartet or as large as a full-scale orchestra. In either state, students learn how to play as a unit and complement each other’s efforts with individual, but pleasing, parts. They also learn how to appropriately accept and share constructive criticism. Constructive criticism is necessary not only in music, but in all of life’s endeavors, so when it’s enforced through an enjoyable activity, the benefits are long lasting.

Music Improves Self-Esteem

A hidden, but equally important development is self-esteem[2]. Participating in music gives students a skill that they can be proud of and use to foster a strong sense of themselves, whether they’re competing in academics, sports, or the arts. This is, of course, due to the benefits that music lessons provide.